Police Officer Ramakrishna on #YuluMiracle, promoting sustainable mobility and safety.
While bike-sharing platforms have the ability to positively transform our roads in terms of accessibility, eco-friendliness, and decongestion, there still remains a critical factor that must be addressed by commuters, and that is the safety factor. Indeed, despite generally low rates of crash incidences – one bike-sharing operator reported a crash rate of approximately one incident for every 50,000 to 60,000 rides – the fact remains that safety is an issue that simply cannot be compromised on, on Indian roads. This is especially true if you consider that Road accidents claimed over 1.5 lakh lives in 2018, and 22 of the world’s 30 most polluted cities are in India.
However, it is our belief that where there is a will to ride, there can be a way. After all, the benefits that bike-sharing platforms offer are quite simply too great to be rendered null by our collective lack of responsibility on a safety front. That being said, let us find out the steps we can take on an individual level to ensure safe and smooth sailing on our roads.
Being hell-bent on helmets
Source: webmail.stp.gov
Helmets are essential to ensure the safety of riders. Indeed, research studies have suggested that cycle helmets reduce the risk of injury to the head and the brain by 65%-88%, and the upper and mid-face by 65%. There’s simply no going around the fact that helmets are truly indispensable when it comes to giving India’s bike-sharing movements great impetus. However, bike-sharing users generally perceive helmet use to be inconvenient because of the discomfort associated with carrying a helmet. There are calls for a helmet sharing scenario as well, but we at Yulu believe that a BYOH (bring your own helmet) policy is the best way forward. This is because it is nigh impossible to ensure the sterility & overall hygiene of shared helmets, and it is equally improbable to ensure that the helmets will be intact after repeated usage to provide maximal efficacy on the safety front, or whether they would be available in the first place at all – as they are prone to theft and are untraceable mist of the times. Now, while our Electric Vehicle – The Yulu Miracle – does not require a driving license or a helmet by law to operate, we certainly recommend that riders use a helmet at all times, even if it is for the super quick last-mile journey that takes you home or to your office.
Thinking and driving
Source: adsoftheworld.com
The harsh reality is that 19 Indians lose their lives to drunken driving every single day. Of course, the statistic is associated with 4 and 2 wheeler motor vehicles, but there’s no escaping from the fact that alcohol impairs the motor skills of a person trying to operate any form of machinery, and this includes cycling as well. That being said, we at Yulu believe that it doesn’t matter what you ride, its the state of mind that causes accidents. Irrespective of whether you’re riding an EV like Yulu Miracle, or the non-EV bike Yulu Move, drinking and driving/riding simply isn’t an option. You can either have a friend pick you up, or book a cab for yourself, and get back on the pedal when you’re all sober again. Besides this, it is imperative that everyone who uses shared vehicles follow all traffic rules i..e. Adhering to traffic signals, staying under speed limits and also parking these vehicles only in designated parking zones. Parking these vehicles in no parking zones and in places wherein it causes inconvenience to the pedestrians and vehicles can lead to accidents and is not encouraged (Yulu’s parking system has been designed so as to allow Yulu’s to be parked only in designated Yulu Zones).
Focus on what you breathe
Source:snowbrains.com
It’s no secret that most Indian metros have been severely impacted by the travesties of air pollution. Bengaluru is no different too, as it is classified as one of India’s 100 ‘non-attainment cities’ under the Central Pollution Control Board’s air quality index list. Consequently, incidences of allergies, lung diseases, and even heart conditions are on the rise due to the toxic levels of PM 2.5 and 10 particles that are flowing around in the air.
Now, while one of Yulu’s driving ideologies is to help curb the rising levels of air pollution in our cities, we understand that there is no overnight fix involved in the scenario. If cities plan on making their air more breathable, it requires a concerted effort from civic authorities, citizens as well as bike-sharing platforms to come together and promote sustainable solutions for transportation. Until we reach the promised land though, we at Yulu recommend the use of air pollution masks that can filter out PM 2.5 & 10 particles while you ride through the streets. It is a temporary fix, but it is very much required.
In the end, though, it must be said that the safety factor is ultimately in the individual’s hand. We believe that a sense of responsibility towards the safety of oneself and the surroundings can be contagious in the best way possible, so let’s strive together and make sure that we create a sustainable and safe future for ourselves and the future generations.